The devil is in the details: self-neglect in Australia

Author:
MCDERMOTT Shannon
Journal article citation:
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 20(3), 2008, pp.231-250.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA

A qualitative research method is used to explore how 24 Australian health, housing and environmental health professionals understand situations of self-neglect. In contrast to American usage of the term in a broad and all-encompassing sense, the participants distinguished between self-neglect (neglect of the person), squalor (neglect of the environment), collecting (accumulation of certain objects) and hoarding (the inability to throw objects away). It is argued that this differentiation can be useful in developing reflective interventions to deal with these problems. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street,  Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).

Subject terms:
older people, self-neglect, attitudes, health professionals;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Australia
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1540-4129
ISSN print:
0894-6566

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